The sum drew criticism at a time when the armed forces are shedding staff.

The Government are ­planning to reduce the size of the Army from 101,000 to 82,000 by 2020.

The shake-up will see 1100 military staff in the recruiting centres “redeployed to other military tasks” and 300 civil service jobs transferred to Capita.

A total of 17 recruitment offices were closed or ­relocated in the past year.

Another 11 are due to close this year.

But the MoD admit that the final total will be around 67 – half the total number of offices.

Defence Minister Andrew Robathan said: “Although the detailed plan is still subject to negotiation, the Army ­anticipates that there will be an overall reduction of around 50 per cent in the number of recruitment offices.”

Pay rates for school-leavers start at £15,824, while university graduates are offered £24,615. The Army say a recruit could be on almost £38,000 as a captain within five years.

But Labour MP for Barnsley, former army officer Dan Jarvis, feared the cuts will prevent the best youngsters from beginning a fulfilling career.

He said: “This decision is ­worrying for anyone who is considering a life serving in our armed forces.

“By outsourcing to a private company, the Government run the risk of recruiting the wrong people that are not ­suitable for forces’ life.

“For the benefit of the country, armed forces recruitment must be conducted in a way that puts military experience ahead of private sector profit.”

The MoD claimed the closure or merging of offices would deliver savings of £300million and free up personnel for frontline duties.